The administrative and advisory boards, commissions
and committees specified in this Administrative Code have been or
are hereby established for the proper and efficient conduct of municipal
affairs. The purpose of these boards is to perform duties of a continuing
nature in specific areas as designated by state statute, this Administrative
Code, the Home Rule Charter or other ordinances of the Borough.
The advisory commissions and committees specified
in this Administrative Code have been or are hereby established for
the proper and efficient conduct of municipal affairs. The purpose
of these boards is to perform duties of a continuing nature in specific
areas as designated by this Administrative Code, the Home Rule Charter
or other ordinances of the Borough.
A. The commissions and committees designated in the following
subsections have been previously established by ordinance or are established
by this Administrative Code. Additional boards shall, from time to
time, be established by ordinance as deemed necessary by the Borough
Council. However, no additional boards may be created until the Borough
Council has determined that the functions of the proposed board cannot
be feasibly performed by one or more of the existing boards.
B. The boards and commissions specified as being advisory
boards or commissions in this Administrative Code have been or are
hereby established within the requirements of the statutes of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the laws of the Borough of Malvern
to provide advice, guidance and recommendations to the Borough Council.
No advisory board shall perform administrative duties or have executive
authority.
C. No advisory board or commission shall have the authority
to spend Borough funds unless provided for in the budget, specifically
approved by the Borough Council and subsequently approved by the Borough
Manager or a member of the administrative staff authorized to do so
by the Manager. The Manager shall assign employees of the Borough
to serve as liaison to and provide staff services to the boards and
commissions where necessary. No advisory commissions or boards shall
have the authority to enter into contracts of any nature.
D. Appointment. The Borough Council shall appoint the
members of advisory commissions and committees. Appointments to fill
vacancies shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term.
E. Removal. Any member of an advisory board or commission
may be removed prior to the expiration of his/her appointed term by
the Borough Council and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania applicable to such board or commission.
F. Compensation. No member of any advisory board or commission
shall be compensated for his/her duties.
G. Officers.
(1) A Chairman and Vice Chairman of each advisory board
or commission shall be elected by the members of each commission or
board in January of each year. Each such officer shall serve a one-year
term. The Chairman or, in his/her absence, the Vice Chairman shall
preside at all meetings of an advisory board or commission, decide
all points of order or procedure and perform any other duties required
by the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or by the ordinances
of the Borough.
(2) The members of each advisory board and commission
shall elect either one of their own members or a member of the Borough
administration to act as the Secretary. The Secretary shall serve
a one-year term. The Secretary or his/her designee shall conduct,
at the direction of the advisory board or commission, all official
correspondence of the board or commission, shall keep a record of
each meeting or other official action of the board or commission and
shall perform all other duties required by the board or commission
by this Administrative Code, by the statutes of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania or by the ordinances of the Borough.
[Amended 6-16-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-3]
H. Meetings; procedures for meetings. All meetings and
hearings of advisory commissions and committees shall be open to the
public unless otherwise permitted by law.
(1) Regular meetings of advisory commissions and committees
shall be held at least once each month on a designated day unless
no matters are pending for consideration.
(2) Special meetings may be held as needed upon the call
of the Chairman or Vice Chairman, provided that appropriate notice
of each meeting is given to each member and the public in accordance
with the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(3) A quorum shall consist of at least a majority of all
members of the board or commission.
(4) The Secretary or his/her designee shall keep minutes
of the board's or commission's proceedings, showing the vote of each
member upon each question or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating
such fact.
(5) A file of all materials and decisions relating to
all official actions of the board or commission shall be kept as part
of the records of each board or commission.
(6) All official records and files of each board and commission
shall be kept in the Municipal Building and shall be public record
unless otherwise provided by law or regulation.
(7) All meetings of advisory commissions and committees
shall be conducted in an orderly fashion and in accordance with the
rules delineated in Robert's Rules of Order.
I. Planning Commission. There shall be in and for the
Borough of Malvern a Planning Commission, as previously created by
Borough ordinance, pursuant to the Municipalities Planning Code of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(1) The powers and duties of the Planning Commission shall
be only as prescribed in the Borough Subdivision and Zoning Ordinances and in Article
II of the Municipalities Planning Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(2) Membership.
[Amended 6-19-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-4; 1-6-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-1; 4-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-2]
(a)
The Planning Commission shall consist of seven members and one
alternate member, all of whom shall be full-time residents and qualified
electors of the Borough. All members of the Planning Commission shall
be appointed to four-year terms.
(b)
Borough Council may appoint by resolution one full-time resident
and qualified elector of the Borough to serve as an alternate member
of the Planning Commission. The term of office for the initial alternate
member shall expire December 31, 2022, and, upon expiration of the
initial term, the alternate member shall be appointed to four-year
terms. When seated pursuant to the provisions of Section 207 of the
MPC, 53 P.S. § 10207, an alternate member shall be entitled
to participate in all proceedings and discussions of the Planning
Commission to the same and full extent as provided by law for Planning
Commission members, including, specifically, the right to cast a vote
as a voting member during the proceedings. The alternate member shall
not serve as a member of the Zoning Hearing Board or as a Zoning Officer.
Any alternate member may participate in any proceeding or discussions
of the Planning Commission but shall not be entitled to vote as a
member of the Planning Commission unless designated as a voting alternate
member pursuant to Section 207 of the MPC, 53 P.S. § 10207.
(3) The terms of not more than two members shall expire
each year.
(4) Should a vacancy occur, the Borough Council shall
appoint a member to fill the vacancy only for the unexpired portion
of the term. Such appointments shall be made within a period of 60
days after such vacancy occurs.
J. Parks and Recreation Committee. There shall be in
and for the Borough of Malvern a Parks and Recreation Committee which
is hereby established in accordance with the ordinances and resolutions
of the Borough for the following purposes and organized as follows:
(1) Composition.
[Amended 3-15-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-3; 8-1-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-2]
(a)
The Parks and Recreation Committee shall consist of nine members
and one alternate member. The members shall be residents of the Borough;
serve without compensation; and be appointed by the Borough Council
to five-year terms.
(b)
Borough Council shall appoint one alternate member of the Parks
and Recreation Committee. The alternate member shall be a resident
of the Borough and serve without compensation. The term of office
for the initial alternate member shall expire December 31, 2027, and,
upon expiration of the initial term, the alternate member shall be
appointed to serve for a term of five years. When seated, an alternate
member shall be entitled to participate in all proceedings and discussions
of the Parks and Recreation Committee to the same and full extent
as provided by law for the Parks and Recreation Committee members,
including, specifically, the right to cast a vote as a voting member
during the proceedings.
(2) The terms of at least one member shall expire each
year.
(3) Should a vacancy occur, the Borough Council shall
appoint a member to fill the vacancy only for the unexpired portion
of the term.
(4) The Parks and Recreation Committee shall be only advisory
in nature and shall perform no administrative duties. It shall perform
such duties as the Borough Council may request from time to time,
including scheduling and initiating recreational programs for the
benefit of the citizens of the Borough; making recommendations to
Council with respect to the equipping, operation and use of the Borough's
parks, playgrounds and recreations areas; and, in October of each
year, providing the Borough Council with an assessment of the state
of the parks, playgrounds and recreational areas in the Borough.
K. Shade Tree Commission. There shall be in and for the Borough of Malvern a Shade Tree Commission which is hereby established in accordance with the ordinances and resolutions of the Borough for the following purposes and organized as follows. The Shade Tree Commission shall consist of three residents of the Borough who shall be appointed by Borough Council and shall serve without compensation for their terms of office and with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations set forth in this chapter, as well as those set forth in Chapter 45 and Chapter
220.
[Amended 1-21-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-1]
(1) Appointments; term of office. The members of the Commission shall
be appointed by the Borough Council for terms of five years, provided
that for the first members of said Commission, one member shall be
appointed for a term of three years, one for a term of four years
and one for a term of five years. On the expiration of the term of
any Commissioner, a successor shall be appointed by the Borough Council
to serve for a term of five years. Vacancies in the office of Shade
Tree Commissioner shall be filled by the Borough Council for the unexpired
term.
(2) Powers and duties. The Shade Tree Commission shall be empowered to:
(a)
Advise the Borough Council and recommend to individual owners
of private property actions that, in its opinion, should be taken
regarding shade trees consistent with the purposes of promoting public
safety and natural beauty.
(b)
Develop or obtain and make available pertinent educational materials
to members of the community.
(c)
Advise the Planning Commission and Borough Council on applications
for subdivisions and land development as to the appropriateness of
the shade trees on any submitted landscaping plan.
(d)
Advise the Borough Council regarding any matters concerning
shade trees on Borough-owned property, including recommendations for
removal, pruning, treatments, placement or replacement.
(e)
The Shade Tree Commission's functions are strictly advisory
and educational and may include monitoring and inventory activities
from time to time.
(f)
The Shade Tree Commission has the authority to enter onto private
property for the purpose of inventory and/or inspection wherever there
is located a tree, shrub or other plant or plant part suspected of
being diseased, damaged or infested with insects such that such disease
or damage or infestation may cause a hazard to other trees or property
in the Borough and to advise the private owner of its recommendation
to remove, prune and/or treat accordingly. However, any steps or actions
to require a private owner to conduct such activity, or to pay for
such work, shall be the exclusive responsibility of the Borough Council
and Borough Manager.
(3) Liability. Neither the Shade Tree Commission collectively nor any of its members individually shall be held liable for any action taken by the Borough Council under this chapter nor under Chapter
48 (Shade Tree Code) nor Chapter
220 (Zoning) nor any other chapter where shade trees are regulated by the Borough.
L. Historical Commission. There shall be in and for the
Borough of Malvern a Historical Commission which is hereby established
in accordance with the ordinances and resolutions of the Borough for
the following purposes and organized as follows:
(1) Said Commission shall consist of seven members who
must be residents of the Borough of Malvern.
(2) Said Commission shall be appointed by the Borough
Council.
(3) The terms of office of the members of said Commission
shall be as follows: two members for two years, two members for three
years, two members for four years, and one member for five years.
Thereafter, the terms shall be for five years.
(4) A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled by the
Borough Council for the unexpired term.
(5) The Commission shall have the right to make recommendations
for appointees to the Borough Council for unfulfilled terms and full
terms.
(6) Compensation. The members of the Historical Commission
shall serve without compensation, but they may be reimbursed for expenses
necessary to carry out the objectives of the Commission when those
expenses are deemed necessary and appropriate and approved by Borough
Council.
(7) The Borough Council of the Borough of Malvern may,
after a duly advertised public hearing, remove any member of the Commission
from office for inefficiency, neglect of duty, malfeasance in office
or conflict of interest.
(8) The Commission shall elect its own Chairman and shall
create and fill such other offices as deemed proper. The Commission
shall make and alter its rules of procedure consistent with the ordinances
of the Borough and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It
shall keep records of its resolutions, transactions, findings and
determinations, and such records shall be considered public records,
except when contrary to the public interest as determined by the Borough
Council pursuant to applicable statutes, ordinances or other rules
and regulations. A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum,
and action taken at any meeting shall require the affirmative vote
of that majority.
(9) Duties shall be as follows:
(a)
To record the history of Malvern Borough and
its significant architectural, historic and natural sites.
(b)
To gather documentary evidence, illustrations,
photographs and all other appropriate materials which will establish
architecture and sites as significant and worthy of preservation.
(c)
To prepare regular reports of its activities
for the Borough Council, as well as specific reports as may, from
time to time, be requested by the Borough Council.
(d)
In conjunction with its recordation of the history
of the Borough, to prepare an index of significant and architectural,
historical and natural sites for use and information by Borough officials
and the citizens of the Borough.
(e)
To cooperate with all Borough officials and
agencies in relation to the preservation and restoration of historic
structures and sites, including the possible acquisition and use of
the same by the Borough.
(f)
To consider, promote and, with the approval
of Borough Council, to apply for technical and financial assistance
from all appropriate local, county, state, federal and other agencies
in the preservation of significant architecture and natural and historic
sites within the Borough of Malvern and to report all related action
to the Borough Council.
(g)
To prepare and submit a yearly budget to the
Borough Council for sums deemed necessary to carry out the objectives
of the Historical Commission. The Borough Council may appropriate
from the general Borough funds such funds as may be necessary and
available for the work of the Historical Commission in the year for
which the appropriation is made.
M. Ad hoc boards.
(1) Ad hoc boards or task forces may be established as
deemed necessary by the Borough Council in accordance with the requirements
of the ordinances and Home Rule Charter of the Borough and this Administrative
Code. Such boards or task forces shall be created only for specific
and temporary purposes. The exact purpose, composition, and term of
such boards shall be specified by Borough Council at the time each
ad hoc board is created.
(2) All ad hoc boards shall be advisory boards and, as
such, they shall be advisory in nature and shall perform no administrative
duties. Ad hoc boards shall have the authority and responsibility
to seek findings of fact, express opinions or make recommendations
in the specific areas of responsibility granted to such boards at
the time of their establishment.
N. Environmental Advisory Council. There shall
be in and for the Borough an Environmental Advisory Council, which
is hereby established in accordance with the ordinances and resolutions
of the Borough for the following purposes and organized as follows:
[Added 11-19-2019 by Ord.
No. 2019-10]
(1) Composition.
[Amended 4-4-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-1(A)]
(a)
The Environmental Advisory Council shall be composed of seven
members and one alternate member. The members shall be residents of
the Borough; serve without compensation; and be appointed by the Borough
Council as follows: two members for a term of two years; two members
for a term of three years; and three members for a term of four years.
On the expiration of the term of any member of the Environmental Advisory
Council, his/her/their successor(s) shall be appointed by the Borough
Council to serve for a term of three years.
(b)
Borough Council may appoint one alternate member of the Environmental
Advisory Council. The alternate member shall be a resident of the
Borough and serve without compensation. The term of office for the
initial alternate member shall expire December 31, 2025, and, upon
expiration of the initial term, the alternate member shall be appointed
to serve for a term of three years. When seated, an alternate member
shall be entitled to participate in all proceedings and discussions
of the Environmental Advisory Council to the same and full extent
as provided by law for the Environmental Advisory Council members,
including, specifically, the right to cast a vote as a voting member
during the proceedings.
(c)
Borough Council may appoint one and up to five associate members
of the Environmental Advisory Council. All associate members shall
be residents of the Borough and serve without compensation. Associate
members shall not have voting rights in the Environmental Advisory
Council but otherwise may participate in all other activities and
serve on special committees of the Environmental Advisory Council.
Associate members shall serve at the discretion of Borough Council,
and at no time shall there be more than five associate members of
the Environmental Advisory Council.
[Added 10-3-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-6]
(2) The Environmental Advisory Council shall
be empowered to:
(a)
Advise the Borough Council, commissions,
boards, councils and other Borough agencies on, and promote education
about, issues relating to the management, promotion, use, protection
and conservation of the Borough's natural resources, including air,
land, and water resources, and residents' enjoyment thereof;
(b)
Work with the Borough's agencies
and other partners to maintain and develop the natural resources in
the Borough in a way that will continue to attract and retain residents,
visitors, and businesses without compromising ecological integrity;
(c)
Identify environmental problems and
recommend plans and programs to the Borough Council;
(d)
Provide technical expertise on environmental
aspects of subdivisions and land developments generally and providing
environmental advice on specific projects or properties upon request
of the Borough Council or the Borough Planning Commission; and
(e)
Recommend plans and programs, including
proposed ordinances or amendments to the ordinances of the Borough,
for the promotion and conservation of the natural resources of the
Borough.
(3) The Borough Council may appropriate from
the general funds such sums as may be necessary and available for
the work of the Environmental Advisory Council in the year for which
the appropriation is made. Such appropriation(s) may be expended for
administrative, clerical, printing, outreach/education, and/or legal
services.
Only Borough Council shall have the authority
to hire or promote a full-time police officer. Borough Council may,
in consideration of any applicant, request information or advice from
the Chief of Police, Mayor or Borough Manager. The provisions of this
Administrative Code shall not operate to change the terms of employment
of any police officer employed by the Borough prior to January 1,
2009.
A. Qualifications. All candidates for a police officer
position, whether full-time or part-time, must have completed all
steps necessary to receive certification by the Municipal Police Officers'
Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) and be fully qualified
to receive verification of certification upon hiring. No candidates
will be considered who are less than 20 years of age. In addition
to the MPOETC qualifications, candidates for a full-time position
shall be required to take a polygraph test. Any officer who is hired
who subsequently has his or her certification revoked shall be subject
to immediate dismissal.
B. Probationary period. All full-time appointments to
any position on the police force shall be for a probationary period
of one year. During that period, the Chief of Police will monitor
the appointee's performance and report any inadequacies to the Mayor.
If, at any time during the probationary period, the Chief of Police
and Mayor determine that the officer's performance is unsatisfactory,
the officer may be terminated by Borough Council. If, at the end of
the one-year probationary period, the Chief of Police and Mayor determine
that the officer's performance is not yet adequate to justify a permanent
appointment but that the officer is likely to improve, the probationary
period may be extended for a period up to but not to exceed three
months. Such extension of the probationary period shall be in writing,
and no person shall be in a probationary status in excess of 15 months.
Officers terminated during the probationary period or any extension
thereof shall have no right to appeal to the Civil Service Commission.